The idea of tyranny today is that of a negative government based on a person who often abuses power and people. A recent example of tyranny in the modern sense would be Saddam Hussein. This modern view is at odds with the old view of tyranny. A tyrant was a person who by various means rose to a position of power. Usually they did this by finding favor with the people, which meant treating the masses well.
Peisistratos (also known as Pisistratos or Peisistratus) was a tyrant of Athens during the 6th century BC. He ruled c550-520 BC although this was not a continuous rule. Peisistratos was the son of Hippocrates (Hippocrates) and, according to Herodotus (Herodotus), the Spartan Chilon advised him never to marry or have children. He ignored this advice and later Peisistratos was born.
Athens during the 6th century BC. C. was a divided city. The Alkmaeonid family (Alcmaeonid) had great influence over the coastal parts of Attica and Megakles (Megacles), the son of Alkmaeon led the coastal inhabitants against their rivals, the inland inhabitants led by Lykourgos (Lycourgus). The coastal faction wanted an oligarchy (rule of a few over many), while the inland factions wanted a more moderate system of government. Peisistratos understood that such a conflict could lead to a power vacuum that he could fill. He devised a new faction of the Attic population called Hyperakrioi (the men of the hills). He used deception and favorable treatment of the poor in society to gain power. He pretended that he had been attacked by his enemies and that they might be violent towards the city. His good works towards his followers, combined with his previous military service in Athens, convinced the rest of the Athenians that he must protect himself from further harm. They armed themselves and took him to the Acropolis. As soon as he reached the Acropolis he assumed power over the city. Herodotos says that this initial period of the Peistratos rule continued the traditions and laws of Athens and treated its citizens with respect.
This period came to an abrupt end when the two factions under Lykourgos and Megakles united to drive him out of the city. Soon after, infighting and riots led Megakles to ask Peistratos for support. He promised Peisistratos to restore him to power provided he married the daughter of Megakles. Peisistratos accepted Megakles’ offer, however, to make sure his government was welcomed, he devised a plan to win over the Athenians. He went to the town of Paeania and recruited a girl known as Phye. She was almost six feet tall and was dressed as Athena in armor and a helmet. He then headed to Athens in a chariot with Phyle at his side. The Athenians believed that Athena herself supported the Peisistratos government and welcomed her to the city of Athens. Then he married Megakles’ daughter, however he refused to sleep with her in the usual way and thus prevent her from having children. Nothing was said about this at first, however Megakles was soon informed by his daughter of the Peisistratos deception. Megakles met with his political enemies to decide to overthrow Peisistratos.
This time, the tyant left Athens and went to the island of Eretria to consult with his two eldest sons Hippias and Hipparchos (Hipparchus). They spent time collecting money and forces from all the cities over which they had influence, including Thebes and Naxos under the authority of Lygdamis, as well as mercenaries from Argos. When everything was ready, Peisistratos marched on Athens. He attacked Marathon and gained a huge following there. His army finally came face to face with the Athenian army at the temple of Athene Pallenis. Then he heard a prophecy from the prophet Amphilytos (Amphilytos). The prophecy was as follows:
The net is thrown and its meshes are widely thrown,
In the moonlit night, the tunnels will cut through the sea.
Peisistratos advanced towards Athens and attacked the city while the inhabitants enjoyed their midday siesta. Many Athenians fled, however, Peisistratos caught up with those fleeing the city and managed to persuade them to return to the city. Peisistratos now had a firm foundation to base his power on. The Almaeonids fled the city and Peisistratos recruited a bodyguard. From that moment on, Peisistratos would remain the tyrant of Athens until his death. His children would assume the family tyranny that would end with their overthrow by the murderous tyrants Harmodius and Aristogeiton at the end of the 6th century BC. C.
